havoc

havoc
\ \ [15] The ancestry of havoc is a mystery, but it seems originally to have been an exclamation, probably Germanic, used as a signal to begin plundering. This was adopted into Old French as havot, which was used in the phrase crier havotshout ‘havot’,’ hence ‘let loose destruction and plunder’. Havot became altered in Anglo-Norman to havok, the form in which English adopted it; and in due course cry havoc gave rise to the independent use of havoc as ‘destruction, devastation’.

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Havoc — Havoc, Havok or Havock may refer to:Film and Television* Havoc (film), a 2005 film * Havoc (Star Wars), a fictional heavy bomber * Johnny Devine, a Canadian professional wrestler * Mikey Havoc, a New Zealand media personalityComics* Havok… …   Wikipedia

  • Havoc — Hav oc (h[a^]v [o^]k), n. [W. hafog devastation, havoc; or, if this be itself fr. E. havoc, cf. OE. havot, or AS. hafoc hawk, which is a cruel or rapacious bird, or F. hai, voux! a cry to hounds.] Wide and general destruction; devastation; waste …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • havoc — ► NOUN 1) widespread destruction. 2) great confusion or disorder. ● play havoc with Cf. ↑play havoc with ORIGIN Old French havot; the word was originally used in the phrase cry havoc give an army the order havoc , which was the signal for… …   English terms dictionary

  • Havoc — Hav oc, interj. [See {Havoc}, n.] A cry in war as the signal for indiscriminate slaughter. Toone. [1913 Webster] Do not cry havoc, where you should but hunt With modest warrant. Shak. [1913 Webster] Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war! Shak.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • havoc — [hav′ək, hav′äk΄] n. [earlier esp. in phrase CRY HAVOC (see below) < ME & Anglo Fr havok < OFr havot, prob. < haver, to hook, take, hef, a hook < Frank * haf , to seize: for IE base see HAVE] great destruction and devastation, as that …   English World dictionary

  • Havoc — (deutsch: Verwüstung) steht für: die NATO Bezeichnung des russischen Kampfhubschraubers Mil Mi 28 Codebezeichnung des Bombers Douglas A 20 ein Teil der Hip Hop Formation Mobb Deep das US amerikanisch deutsche Filmdrama Havoc (Film) aus dem Jahr… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Havoc — Havoc, Inc «Havoc Inc.»  серия комиксов про антропоморфных животных, выпущенная издательством комиксов «Radio Comix» (Техас, США). Отдельные серии и кадры выпускались авторами с 1997 года. Созданный сценаристом Марком Бернардом (Mark… …   Википедия

  • Havoc — Hav oc, v. t. To devastate; to destroy; to lay waste. [1913 Webster] To waste and havoc yonder world. Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • havoc — early 15c., from Anglo Fr. havok in phrase crier havok cry havoc (late 14c.), a signal to soldiers to seize plunder, from O.Fr. havot pillaging, looting, related to haver to seize, grasp, hef hook, probably from a Germanic source (see HAWK (Cf.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Havoc — (nacido como Kejuan Muchita el 21 de mayo de 1974 en Queensbridge, New York), es un rapero y productor del dúo Mobb Deep. Él se encarga de producir la mayoría de las canciones del dúo y es uno de los productores de más prestigio de la costa este …   Wikipedia Español

  • havoc — I noun anarchy, carnage, cataclysm, chaos, chaotic state, confusion, depredation, derangement, desolation, destruction, devastation, disorder, disorganization, dispersion, disruption, holocaust, overturning, pillage, plundering, ravage, ruin,… …   Law dictionary

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